Trend: Designer-Inspired Hotels & Decor

[travel trends] Looks like hotels are taking a cue from fashion.  With icons like Jean Paul Gaultier designing for Target, and Miley Cyrus and Max Azria collaborating for WalMart, who is to say the same thing can't be done with hotels?  Well, it is...

Recently, stylist Amanda Ross was named as the W Hotels Fashion Director. Part of the Starwood brand, W Hotels' 36 properties are aimed a stylish traveller who appreciates "modern travel and modern living," making the partnership all the more apropos. Ross has consulted for major designers as well as acted as the stylist for NBC's short-lived Lipstick Jungle.  Although her first W project is under wraps, she mentioned she'll be visiting Barcelona this month and also heading to Paris for Fashion Week, and it just so happens a W is opening there next year.

What does 'Fashion Director' Mean? In the case of W Hotels and Amanda Ross' partnership, being the Hotel's fashion director means: - creating a strategic framework for W's global point of view on fashion - working with a designer to create staff uniforms & special collections for sale at W Hotels - styling the look of the rooms, lobbies and other common areas.

Ross' role with W Hotels is talked about as the "First position of it's kind for any hotel".....well kinda.

Armani Armani has collaborated with Emaar Properties to create the "Armani Hotel Dubai" in the world's tallest building: Burj Dubai tower.  Armani's hotel is apparently the first in a series of hotels, resorts and residences to be opened around the globe.  You can already make reservations for the Dubai hotel which is supposed to open today, but rumor has it, the open will have slight delay.

Now Posh? Late in January, there was a media frenzy concerning Victoria Beckam's 40.5 million dollar offer to design a hotel in Dubai with fellow fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld. Media reports note the singer-cum-designer was "stunned by the offer," but since then, no reports have surfaced about whether or not the deal will proceed.

What About Airlines? Most airlines have jumped on the celebrity chef bandwagon, but who is going to be the first to hire a Fashion Director to consult on uniforms and cabin decor?

Kiss Me I'm Irish :: St. Patty's Day

The Irish are nuts for St. Patrick's Day, a national holiday and 5-day festival. Thankfully, they were kind enough to share the March 17th celebrations with countries like Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand and Argentina partaking in the fun.

St. Patrick's Day Traditions You don't need to travel to Ireland to share in the modern-day celebrations; although, I imagine it would be fantastic to see the Irish celebrate this national holiday on home turf. Either way, here are some ways to bring St. Patty to you and yours: - watch a parade (many cities have annual parades) - wear green - decorate with shamrocks (see significance below) - drink beer (Guinness of course) - eat or make pub food - visit your local Irish Pub - eat green pancakes (at least that's what my mom made me when I was little)

Facts - st patrick was a christian missionary and recognized as patron saint of Ireland - celebrated in Ireland since before 1600s - official public holiday in Ireland - believed to have morphed into a one-day 'break' in the middle of lent (hence the eating and drinking) - why celebrate on Mar 17? that is the day St. Patrick passed - the shamrock's association with St. Patrick: apparently, he used it to demonstrate the Holy Trinity - celebrations now mostly used to showcase Ireland and its traditions vs religious roots

Travel iPhone Apps :: AAA/CAA Savings

AAA/CAA has recently launched AAA Savings, an excellent road trip or fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants travel companion pointing you to savings at 110,000+ hotels, restaurants and retail outlets throughout North America.  And here's the piece de resistance, if your car breaks down in the middle of desert in Nevada, you can call roadside assistance via the app and it will pinpoint your GPS location to the dispatcher.  Safety first!

AAA/CAA Travel App Details

• free
• pinpoints your location and displays area merchants offering discounts to members
• provides route maps and directions to your selected location
• discount details and info are categorized & available with one touch
• place roadside assistance calls to AAA/CAA and dispatchers will receive your GPS coordinates

Other Travel iPhone Apps we've Reviewed

• Tourism British Columbia :: Near Me BC
• Postman Postcard
• 2010 Guide
• Nat'l Geo World Atlas
• hostelworld.com
• kayak first class
• flight control (game)

Airlines with Cheap Upgrade Options

Sure, you can get an airline seat upgrade with frequent flier status or using extra miles, but sometimes that's a hassle. To simplify travel, here are some airlines who offer cheap upgrades for purchase:

Alaska Airlines If seats in business class aren't booked upon check-in, they'll offer them to economy passengers from $50 extra.

Air Transat Air Transat Club Class books early because the cost is only $300 ($150 each way) on top of the economy fare. On a 7-hour flight, many would argue, it's worth it...

AirTran, America West, Spirit & Sun Country Like Air Transat, these US discount airlines offer relatively low prices for upgrades, from $25, but based on this chart, I'm not sure the upgrades are worth it.

Hawaiian Airlines If seats are available in Business Class, Hawaiian has been known to upgrade economy passengers for $250 each way. If you book a base economy fare of $170 from SEA - OGG + $250 upgrade, this is still cheaper than buying a full-fare business class seat for $650.

US Airways Finally, a airline who gets it!  If you're flying economy and have the option to upgrade for a reasonable amount, WHY NOT?  It seems US Airways has tapped into this culture with GoUpgrades, a program which allows passengers the option to upgrade their seats 24 hours before the flight, based on availability.  And, it costs as little $50 depending on the duration of your flight.  To ensure you get 'out of the gate' first and have the best chance of an upgrade upgrade online or via phone (800) 428-4322, remember to contact within them 24 hours of your flight departure.

Virgin America Virgin's first class is epic yet costly, but sipping bubbly in first could be within your reach.  Take advantage of Virgin's same-day upgrade pricing 6 hours before your transcontinental flight try and snag a $270 upgrade online or .

Know of any other airlines with cheap upgrade options?  If so, let me know and I'll continue to expand this post.

Flight Attendants or Safety Attendants?

In the wake of airlines trying to stay afloat in a discretionary spending market, I've noticed a major shift in the verbiage and attitude of flight attendants.  What I mean by this, is ever since things like having a Sprite or mini package of too-salty nuts became an in-flight luxury, airlines' announcements have changed from "please let us know if there's anything we can do to make your flight more comfortable" to "we are here for your safety..." with no mention of service.

The Chicken or the Egg Has this shift in focus become more and more accepted and evident in the wake of 9/11, or is it due to less service offerings on the flight so attendants can focus more on safety? Or both? I'm not sure, all I know is that a monumental shift has occurred and if you travel in both economy and business class, the shift is all the more pronounced. On some economy flights I've taken, the feeling like flight attendants are only "there for your safety" rings very true. As in, the focus on safety is so strong, there can be a serious lack in service--and not just because I have to pay for a water. On the flip side, when traveling business class, the service side of airline travel is still alive and well.

The Same Plane This is what the service and safety breakdown 'seems like' between economy and business class: Economy = service 10% / safety 90% Business or first class = service 90% / safety 10% I know you get what you pay for, but really, it's the same plane, so why is the safety message so much stronger in economy?

First Line of Defense I have a friend who used to be a flight attendant with Air Canada. During her rigorous training my inquisitive nature and fascination with all things travel came out, and I'd always get the "411" on the ins and outs of her training. As a frequent airline passenger, I'm happy to know that her training was very safety-intensive. Because flight attendants are the first line of defense, I know their roles are an invaluable to travel. And I also know they put up with a lot.  Among other things, it's not easy to calm someone down or deal with a 'situation' in front of hundreds of people.

Safety has Always been Important It's not like all of the sudden airlines decided to focus on safety in the New Millennium, it's always been important. My concern is that a PR-esque change has taken place, and I wonder if the 'new focus on safety' has given some flight attendants a carte blanche to forget about the needs of passengers?  There are ways of still having a service-oriented attitude even if the airline has completely stipped the in-flight services.

Updated Announcement? I know this could be a controversial post.  Let me be clear; I have a deep respect for flight attendants.  I am the type of passenger that abides by the golden rule and values both the safety and service parts of their roles.  I wonder if in the constantly evolving aviation field, perhaps the in-flight announcements should say something like "We are primarily here for your safety...and...please also let us know if there'a anything we can do to make your flight more comfortable. Thank you for flying with Awesome Airlines, we hope to see you again soon." This message would hopefully remind passengers and airline staff about the balance of priorities while traveling.